Christmas and Hanukkah came together at the Port Hueneme City Hall for the second time Thursday evening.

"What I love about this ceremony is that people of all faiths can come to learn about other faiths, religion and their community," said Rabbi Dov Muchnik, of Chabad of Port Hueneme, who also is a police chaplain.

Port Hueneme Councilwoman Sylvia Munoz Schnopp said the city began the celebration last year.

"I was mayor at the time when we started, and the police chaplains came and wanted to do this," she said. "Our first year, it was just simply packed. We filled the place with people coming to share holiday wishes."

Muchnik opened the ecumenical ceremony on the seventh night of Hanukkah by saying prayers for military personnel and then inviting interim Police Chief Robert Gager to light the menorah's middle candle or Shamash, which is used to light the other eight candles.

"It's a real symbol of freedom and freedom of religion, which is best expressed at this time of year," the rabbi said. "The menorah is a symbol of that because the festival of Hanukkah celebrates the Maccabees, who were fighting not for territory but for religious freedom."

In addition to a menorah and Christmas tree lighting, the event featured students from the Conejo Jewish Day School choir singing several Hanukkah songs and Sgt. Daniel Plaster of the Air National Guard 146th Airlift Wing singing the national anthem as well as "God Bless America."

The Port Hueneme Police Department, with 60 employees, has several chaplains, including Muchnik, Protestant ministers and a Byzantine priest.

"It's a broad spectrum to represent a diverse city," Schnopp said.

Mayor Doug Breeze said it's a good thing to bring together the community to celebrate blessings in the holiday season.

"It's a great way for us all to gather together," he said.

Pastor Merrick Carter, a police chaplain, lit the Christmas tree and gave a traditional Christmas blessing.

"It's about camaraderie and bringing people together," said Carter, of Pacific Coast Ministries. "Bringing Christian and Jewish traditions together at this time of year is meaningful for all of us and it celebrates the spirit."

As the chaplains spoke, sirens could be heard outside as city police cars escorted a float with Santa Claus waving to passers-by along Ventura Road.

"I like things that make the community feel good," said Jonathan Sharkey, a Port Hueneme councilman for 18 years. "It's a time of goodwill and renewal, and here it is at the end of the Hanukkah celebration and the beginning of Christmas. It's a wonderful time."

Police Sgt. Chris Graham oversees the department's chaplain program.

"The chaplains took it over so that it could represent all the faiths we have here in the city," he said. "By next year, we'll have an outside organization run the program to get the community more actively involved."